1. Homecoming
Frank Gore is going against his hometown team, the team he played for last year and a head coach that was an opposing team's linebacker in college on Sunday. It's safe to say he has a little history with them.
The Dolphins have also struggled out of the gate at 0-5 but Gore is more focused on his current team and his running back room.
"I told my guys that play the same position to stay strong and keep working hard and do the best they can," Gore said. "I know it's tough. But I'm mainly focused on my team. Today we had a great practice and tomorrow we'll have another great practice and get ready for Sunday."
Rookie running back Devin Singletary was a full practice participant on Wednesday as he works his way back from a hamstring injury. Gore's helped him through the process.
"Just keep coming to meetings, learning the playbook and do whatever the trainers want him to do," Gore said. "He'll be fine. He looked good today in practice, and we'll be fully loaded in the backfield this Sunday."
2. Kroft ready to play
Tight end Tyler Kroft has yet to suit up on any gameday for the Bills. Injuries and setbacks have caused him to miss the entire preseason and the first five games of 2019.
"Yeah there's some frustration," Kroft said. "But at the end of the day you always have to come in and punch your card every day and get to work. You can't hang your head; no one's gonna feel sorry for me so you gotta come in and just be ready to go and get better."
Kroft was a full participant in practice.
"Really excited [for Sunday]," Kroft said. "I mean I'll be able to keep my emotions in check. I've played a good amount of football games but yeah I'm really excited."
3. Fitz is back
Former Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was announced as the starter by Dolphins head coach Brian Flores on Wednesday. Fitzpatrick played for the Bills from 2009-12, starting 53 games.
"He's just such a great man off the field I guess that'll be my main thing about him," said former teammate and current Bill Lee Smith. "You know, I was very fortunate to get to be around him as a young player, he was my neighbor. He was somebody that I that I looked up to and valued as a man as a husband and as a father, so I will never, never take for granted the fact that I got to start with him as a young puppy and just what he's been able to do. God he's thrown touchdown passes for every team in the league. He's a great person, he's a great football player. You don't play 15 years in this league unless you're a great football player. And once again I can just attest to the fact that there's never been anybody that he met that didn't love him."
4. Hyde: Don't underestimate your opponent
Miami is one of two teams without a win this season. That won't change Buffalo's defensive approach says safety Micah Hyde.
"It's another opportunity," Hyde said. "They got a lot of guys on the team making a lot of money to play football. You can't sleep on anybody in this league in the NFL, doesn't matter if they're 0-16. Be ready to play and play accordingly."
"You don't want to give any life to a team coming in," Hyde said. "Whether they're playing well or playing bad it doesn't matter. You're out there to stop them and try to get takeaways and see what you can do as a football team. It's always the same mentality, we're not going to change this week because they've have been struggling."
5. Duke Williams is staying focused
Wide receiver Duke Williams scored a touchdown in his first career NFL game and was then immediately hit with a bye week. He's had a tumultuous journey to the NFL and has no plans of slowing down.
"I look at it as just a reward that I scored but now I'm learning how to cope with everything," Williams said. "It's all fun and games with the fans and the media and all that but I got to keep my head down and keep driving and getting better each and every day and trying to find spots in my game that I need to elevate."
